Well tool



April 4,1939.

WELL TOOL H. NEIGHBORS Filed Sept. 22, 1958 ATTOR N EYS Patented Apr. 4,1939 PATENT OFFICE WELL TOOL Glen H. Neighbors, Shreveport, La.Application September 22, 1938, Serial No. 231,259

2 Claims.

My invention relates to well tools adapted for use as either a plug orchoke for a string of tubing located within the casing of a flowing oilwell.

In flowing oil well operations, to effect tubing changes, it is a commonpractice to lower a tool or obstructive device within t* well tubing toeffect a choking of the well. This is accomplished by securing an'obstructive device, adapted for use as either a plug or choke, to theend of a lowering pipe, lowering the same a desired distance into thewell tubing, and operating said obstructive device to seal the well adesired distance from the surface after which the well tubing maybewithdrawn completely from the well casing or shifted longitudinallywithin the well casing to change the position of the inlet or screensection of the tubing relative to the bottom `of the well. l

Ordinarily, the choke or obstructive device is provided with a relativesmall bore which becomes clogged or sealed while being lowered due tothe fact that the fluid through which the choke passes is of a heavynature, for instance oil with congealed paraffin orheavy rotary muds.Thus ln running the tool through the fluid, it requires considerabletime (oftenmany hours) toA pass it down into the well tubing andsometimes it is impossible as the, oil will clog ahead of `the, tool.

1 One example of a toolyof this] character is illustrated inthe nitedStates patent to Herbert C. Otis, No. 1,920,103, granted July 25, 1933.l My improved tool eliminates the clogging of the borewofthe choke,v itbeing one of the principalobjects thereof to provide a well toollequipped withmeans for by-passing the 4fluid about the choke during alowering operation.

UAnother object of my invention is to provide a tool of the abovedescribed character equipped with means for by-passing the fluid 'duringak lowering operation together with 1' leans operable for closing theby-pass means;

A further object of my invention is tri-provide a device of the abovedescribed-character equipped with means operated by fluid pressure forpermitting by-passing of fiuldvfor choking or killy ing `the well.

A special obJect of my invention is to provide a tool of the abovedescribed character which is `simple in construction, durable in use,efficient in operation, and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views: l

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my invention illustratingthe parts in lowering position.

Figure 2 is a view :similar to Figure 1 illustrating the parts in setposition.

Figures 3, .4 and 5 are enlarged detail sectional views taken on thelines 3-3, 4-4 and 5 5 of Figure 1 respectively.

In practicing my invention I provide a well casing I in which is locateda well tubing II, both being of, an4 ordinary construction. Asillustrated in the drawing, my improved well tool is positioned withinthe tubing II and comprises a mandrel I2 having a centrally disposedbore I3 extending therethrough and is formed with an upper straightcylindrical section I4, the upper end of which is threaded as at I5 forthe reception of an externally disposed collar I6. Subjacent thecylindrical section I4, the mandrel is formed with a frustro-conicalsection I1 around which is disposed a plurality of independent slips I8.`Each of said slips are provided on the outer peripheral face thereofwith teeth I9 which are adapted to engage the inner surface of thestring of tubing II to maintainthe device or tool in a predeterminedposition within said string of tubing.

The inner surfaces of the assembled slips I8 taper in accordance withthe taper of the external surface of the frustro-conical section I'I' ofthe mandrel so that, upon relative longitudinal movement being affectedbetween the slips and section I1, the slips will be caused to expand orcontract to effect either engaging or'releasing movement, as the casemay be, of the teeth of said slips with respect to the inner surface ofthe string of tubing. Each of the slips I8 are supported by a tongue 20,the upper ends of which are pinned to a slip carrier 2l slidably mountedonk the section I4 of the mandrel and subjacent the collar I6.

Above the slips I8 there is mounted about the tongues a ring 20a forlimiting the outward moveme'nt of said slips for effecting readyinsertion within the top of the tubing. Said ring is of a sufficientdiameter to permit sufficient expansion of the slips to engage theinterior peripheral face of the tubing.

The slip carrier 2l comprises a cylindrical body section provided atlthe upper end thereof with an annular flange 22 formed with an undercutlower edge 23 for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

At the lower end of the frustro-concal section I1 the mandrel isprovided with an annular flange 24 and has extending radially therein ashear pin 2l formed with an outwardly extending threaded head and anvinwardly extending shank 28 for engagement within a radially extendingcul-desac 21 formed in the headed section fashioned on the intermediateportion of a barrel 28 which is slidably mounted within the bore I3 ofthe mandrel. The upper end of the barrel is threadedly connected to thelower end of a hollow plunger 29 slidably mounted within said mandrel.The bore I3 of the mandrel adjacent the lower end of the section I1 isshouldered as at 30 to `provide a packing gland 3I about the barrel 28.

Interposed between the lower end of the plunger 29 and said shoulder 30is a coil spring 32 surrounding the barrel 28 and normally urging theplunger 29 upwardly within the bore I3. The upper end of the plunger 29is interiorly threaded and receives therein the lower end of a chokebushing 33 formed with a bore 34 extending therethrough and incommunication with the bore of the plunger 29 and barrel 28. The upperend of the bushing extends through the section I4 of the mandrel andinto the collar I6 and slightly beyond the upper end of said collar. iThe upperv end of the bushing is fashioned with a circumferentiallyextending groove 35 normally located below the upper end of the collarwhen my device is being lowered within the tubing. The circumferentiallyextending groove 35 receives therein offset lower ends 36 of a pluralityof resilient arms 31 connected together 'at their upper ends and to aninternally threaded sleeve 38. The sleeve 38 receives therein the lowerenlarged threaded end 39 of a lowering rod or pipe 40 whereby my deviceis lowered within the tubing as hereinafter more fully described.

Subjacent the head section of the barrel 28. said barrel is fashionedwith a lower cylindrical section 4I. on which are mounted a plurality ofcup washers 42. The lower cylindrical section 4I has secured thereonbetween said washers 42 spacers 43 and on the lower end a lock nut 44whereby said spacers and washersA are maintained in assembled condition.

The lower section 4I of the barrel is fashioned with a bore 45communicating with a bore 46 in the upper section of said barrel bymeans of an intermediate passage 41. Said intermediate passage hascommunication with a plurality of radially extending ports 48 in theheaded section of the bore which communicate without said barrel intothe interior of the tubing. The shank 28 of the sheer pin 25 serves tomaintain the headed section spaced relative to the shoulder 3l andlower.y face of .the ange 24 whereby to.`

maintain the ports 48 in opened condition.

In use, the rod or pipe 48 is secured within the collar 38 and the ends36 of the arms 31 are seated within the groove 35 and embraced by theupper end of the collar I6. In this position of the parts, asillustrated in Figure 1, my device is gradually lowered into the tubingand oil or other uid entering the bore 45 of the section 44I -below thewashers 42 will pass upwardly through said bo're and 4passage 41 andoutwardly through the ports 48, thereby effecting an easy lowering ofthe tool even though the bore 34, which is 'of a relatively narrowdiameter, should become clogged by heavy fluid passing therethrough.When the tool has been lowered to a desired depth, a raising of the pipe40 serves to expand the slips I8 to effect engagement with the innerface of the tubing against upward movement due to the angular faces `orthe teeth is. 5 When the teeth I9 thus engage" the interior surfaces ofthe tubing, continued pressure on the pipe 40 serves to shear the shank28 of the pin and thus permit a raising of the headed section of thebarrel a sufficient distance to close the ports 48 and at the same timepermit a like raising of the bushing 33 a suflicient distance to disposethe groove above the upper end of the collar r I6 as clearly illustratedin Figure 2 of the drawing. .a when the bushing is thus raised, theoffset 1 ends 36 of the arms 39, due to the expansion of said arms,disengage from said bushing and permit the pipe together with the arms31 to be raised out of the tubing thereby effectively closing the tubingagainst upward ow except through the bore 34 of the bushing 33 andcommunicating bores. The spring 32 serves to maintain the section 4Iraised relative to the mandrel, thus closing the ports 48. Should itbecome necessary to kill the well, fluid pumped down the tubing willovercome the pressure of the spring 32 and' permit a lowering of thebarrel and subsequent opening of the ports 48 to permit fluid to by-passthrough the passage 41 and bore 45.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising, a mandrel equippedwith slips adapted to engage the inner wall of a tubing and secure saidmandrel xed thereto, a bored barrel slidably mounted in said mandrel andfashioned with ports adapted for effecting communication between saidtubing and the bore of said barrel subjacent said mandrel, said' barrelprovided with a section subjacent said ports, sealing elements carriedby said section and adapted for engagement with said tubingwhereby toeffect iiow'of fluid through said section and through said ports. meansconnected to said barrel for moving the latter relative to said mandrelfor disposing said ports within said mandrel, and a shear pin securingsaid mandrel to said barrel whereby to maintain said ports spaced belowsaid mandrel.

2. A device of the character described, comprising, a mandrel equippedwith slips adapted to engage the inner wall of a tubing and secure saidmandrel fixed theretol a bored barrel slidably mounted in said mandreland fashioned with ports adapted for effecting communication betweensaid tubing and the bore of said barrel subjacent said mandrel, saidbarrel provided with a section subjacent said ports, sealing elementscarried by said section and adapted for engagement with said tubingwhereby to effect flow of fluid through said section and through saidports, means connected to said barrel for moving the `latter relative tosaid mandrel for closing said ports, a shear pin securing said mandrelto said barrel whereby to maintain said ports spaced below said mandrel,a spring for moving-said barrel relative to said mandrel upon shearingof said pin, and means connected to said barrel for shearing said pin.

GLEN H. NErGHBoRs. 7

